Radial stay for locomotive-boilers.



A. R. HODGES RADIAL STAY FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.

APPLICATION men 11.23.1911.

1,249,958. PatefitedDec. 11,1917.

2 SHEETS-SREET l.'

A. R. HOUSES. 1111mm. STAY FOR Locomonvs BOILERS.

- APPHCATION FILE D FEB. 23. I9.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

j? i i, 1

Patented Dec. 11,1917.

- rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALLAN R. HODGES, OF MEMPHI S, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CYRUS A.

MoALLI TER, OF MEIVLPHIS, TENNESSEE.

RADIAL STAY FOR LOCOMOTIVE-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 11,1917. 7

Application filed. February 23, 1917. Serial N 0. 150,515.

I To all whom it may concern of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Radial Stays for L0: comotive-Boilers, of which the following is a specification. v I v .This invention relates to an improvement in radial stays for locomotive boilers employed more articularly for the urpose of bracing re atively to one anotl er the fire-box shell and the outershell.

In such boilers, the fire-box shell becomes highly heated while the outer shell is still relatively cold, with the result that the firebox shell expands rapidly during an interval when the outer shell isexpanding comparatively slowly. On the other hand, the

outer shell is the first to cool and cooling rapidly contracts rapidly, while the fire-box shell is cooling, and, hence, contracting, relatively slowly. In those constructions wherein radial stays of rod or bolt form are employed to brace and connect the two. shells, the stay rods or bolts are of flexible.

construction, 2'. 6., they are constructed. to have a ceitaln measure of loose play 111 the direction of their length in order to avoid the otherwise destructive effects which the contraction and expansion of the shells would have each on the other.

Flexible stay rods or bolts of the constructions ordinarily employed-are open to the following principal objections: First they require considerable work of diflicult character for their fitting; second, they embody connections of somewhat elaborate and expensive character for their attachment to the shells, which connections. are a source of more or less continual trouble by reason of becoming loose on sprung and causing leakage, and, in the case of the firebox shell, of deteriorating rapidly under intense heat due to low water conditions, with the result that the fire-box is inadequately stayed and becomes ruptured or subject to collapse; and third, on being stripped in connection with the renewal of either of the-shells, they are practically destroyed or at least rendered unfit for further use, in consequence of which, when stripped, they are discarded or scrapped.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a radial stay which will- .overcome the above disadvantages. gatated in positive terms, the principal ob-f ]ects of the invention are, to provide radial, stays whose secti0ns'orparts may be fitted and organized relatively to one anotherand to the shells with ease and facility even .where the work is being conducted in the narrowest or least accessible parts of the steam space betweenthe shells, may be connected to the shells in such manner that their connections with the shells will not be liable to. springing or looseness, andgin the case of the fire-box shell, will materially resist the destructive efiects of intense heat under low water conditions; and by virtue of their construction andmeans of connection to the shells may be efficiently re-used after being stripped incident to the renewal of either of the shells. f 1 l i f Further objects of the. invention are .to; provide a radial stay ofexceedingly simple, inexpensive and durable construction; in. which, without the introduction of any element of structural complication, effective provision .may be made for transverse as well as longitudinal"flexibility; in which, any degree of flexibility necessary in an ex isting situation may be conveniently provided for; and. in which the resisting pullis along a straight axis common to both sec tions of thei stay and to the engaging elements-of the flexible joint of said stay sec; tions L Y f l With the above objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel'features'involving the structure of the stay andits relation to the shells I v 7 An embodimentof the invention is 'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangementofthe improved radial stays between the'fire-box shell and the outer shell. v I

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view showing tfiellconnection of the stays tothe fire-box s e Fig. 3 is a face view and Fig. 4 a side elevation of a radial stay in which the features of the invention are incorporated.

Fig. 5 is a face view'and Fig. 6 a side elevation of one of the sections of the stay.

Fig. 7 is a detail crosssectional view on cor *esponding parts throughout the several views.

The drawings show a fire-box shell and an outer shell 2 of ordinary construction. The radial stays 3 between these shells are of rod or bolt form and comprise sections 1 and 5 having a flexible jointure with one another and which are secured to the respective shells 1 and 2.

According to the present invention, the loose play joint between the stays involves in its articulation a relative outward longitudinal movement of the stay sections while in alining relation and the stay is otherwise constructed, whereby if one of said sections, preferably the upper or outer section, be attached to the shellfroin which it projects, the other section will, in consequence of the said outward longitudinal movement, pass from a position wherein its remote end is free of the shell to which it is to be subsequently attached to a position wherein said end projects through said shell for the purpose of attachment thereto.

T he loose play oint between the sections 4 and 5 is preferably of the construction which, per so, forms the subject of my copending application Serial No. 150,517. Such a joint is shown herein and comprises a pair of counterpart hooks 6, one carried by, each section, terminal lugs 7 carried by each hook, and openings 8 in the bows of the hooks through which the lugs 7 project when the hooks are in engaged relation. The legs of each hook are substantially parallel and are suitably spaced to receive between them the outer leg of the companion hook. The length of the hooks is selected to provide for their movement or play longitudinally relatively to one another, and, if desired or'necessary, the openings Sare, as shown, sufficiently wider than the lugs 7 to provide for a certain measure of transverse relative play of the hooks.

An important advantage of the invention is that it greatly facilitates the use of direct connections between the sections 4: and 5 and the respective shells 1 and 2. By the expression direct connections 1 refer to connections which are rigid or steam-tight, as effected by welding or riveting, and wherein internediate securing or packing elements, such as nuts or glands, are dispensed with and the removal of the stay sections requires that they shall be merely cut from the shells. While the sections l and 5 may be interchangeably secured by welding or riveting, it is preferred to secure the section 4t by welding and the section 5 by riveting. In such. a case, the section 5 will first be secured to the shell 2, after which it is articulated with the section 4 and the latter is thereupon secured to the shell 1.

As preferred and disclosed, the section 5 is provided with a cylindrical attachment raaaese portion 9 which has threaded engagement in an opening 10 provided therefor in the shell 2; and the said attachment portion is formed externally of said shell, by the tool or imple ment usually employed for the purpose, with a rivet head 11 which bears against said shell and completes the direct, rigid and steam-tight oint between said shell and the section 5.

The length of the section 4 is selected whereby its lower end will be above the shell 1 during the articulation of said section with the section 5 and while said sections are in alining relation, but will, when said sections have been articulated, project through an opening 13 provided therefor in the shell 1.

It will be observed that the hooks 6 are slightly oflset from the respective sections 41 and 5 at relativelyopposite sides'of said sec tions and that the neck 12 which connects each hook to its section is relatively wide and heavy and'provides a reinforcement for the hook which, as regards strength, compensates for its offset relation. The hooks 6 are oifset as described in order that the shanks or body portions of the sections 4 and 5 may be in axial alinement with one another whereby the resisting pull of the stay will be along a straight line or aXis common to the sections l and 5; andthe engaging or co-acting parts of the hooks 6 are so located that they will be in the said common line of axial pull. By virtue of these features, all parts of the stay, including the flexible joint between its sections, possess great strength and efliciency for the contemplated purpose of bracing the shells 1 and 2 relatively to one another.

The offset relation of the hooks 6 in the embodiment disclose-d makes it necessary in the articulation of the sections 1 and5 to first move said sections transversely relatively to one another wherebythe outer leg of each hook 6 will enter between the legs of the companion hooks. This transverse movement may be performed with ease and facility even in the narrowest or least accessible parts of the steam space between the shells, and it is continued untilthe lugs 7 aline with the openings 8, afterwhich the section t'is longitudinally moved outward relatively to the-section 5 or toward the shell 1 to cause the lugs to pass through the openings ,8. During such longitudinal movement of'the section 1, it is held in alinement or substantial alinement with the section 5, this being aided by the engagement of the lugs 7 in the openings 8, and as thus alined orsubstantially alined with the section 5, the outer or lower end of the section t passes through the opening 13 of the shell 1.

As previously stated, the section A is preferably secured to the shell 1 by welding. A welded connection between the section f and the shell 1 is not only direct, rigid and ing. its integrity under such conditions, in.

very large measure prevents the rupture or collapse of the fire-box shell.

Where the section 4 is secured to the shell I 1 by welding, its lower or outer end has a tapering attachment portion 14 which facilitates its introduction into the opening 13 and provides for a clearance 15between it and the wall of the opening 12 and enables .the welding to be effected with the oxyacetylene blow-pipe in the well known manner. The increased surface provided by the clearance 15 insures of an extremely efiicient welded joint 16 between the section 4 and the shell 1.

It willbe observed that the openings 10 and 13 conform in diameter to the diameters of the sections 5 and 4 or, stated otherwise, areof the smallest possible diameter. This is an incident of the described direct connections between said sections and the shells and has the advantage of reducing the impairment of the tensile strength of the shells in connection with the attachment of the stays thereto to a minimum.

When renewing the shells, the sections 4 or 5, as the case may be, arecut ofl as close as possible to the surface of the shell to which they are secured- Such cutting of said sections shortens them very slightly, but since'it does not affect the flexible joint between them it does not interferewith their further use as elements of radial stays, the only requirement being that as re-used their location must be changed to some point where the radial distance between the shells will be less to the extent that the length of the sections is made less by cutting from them their end portions which project through the openings 13 or 10 of the respective shells. In the renewal of either of the shells those of the, sections 4 or 5, according to the shell being renewed, which are may have new shanks or body lengths welded to them to convert them, in effect, into the new sections 4 or 5 that must be supplied for the longest stays. A very great economy is obviously effected by the re-use of the stays as described.

The flexible joints of the stays may be located at any desired point in their length; although it is preferred that their location, i. 6. distance from one of the shells, shall be the same throughout the boiler and shall be somewhat close to the outer shell in order that they may be for the most part above the water level and, therefore, substantially free from deposits or corrosion. Said joints may also be disposed in any desired planes, although if not interfered with by the necessary arrangement of other internal parts, they are preferably disposed with their hooks 6 in longitudinal radial planes of the boiler.

The joint disclosedpossesses marked advantage in point of flexibility, strength and generaladaptab'ility to the environments of its use.

I claim as my inventionl. A radial stay for the fire-box shell and outer shell of locomotive boilers comprising a pair of rigid sections adapted to. be connected to the respective shells and each having an element for its jointure to the other,

the said elements being adapted for interlocking engagement by an initial transverse relative movement and by a subsequent relative outward longitudinal movement and when interlockingly engaged having a measure of longitudinal loose play to enable said shells to expand and contract independently of one another. j I

2. A boiler having afire-box shell and an outer shell, one ofsaid shells being provided with openings for radial stays in combina tion with a radial stay comprising a pair of rigidcsec'tions adapted for rigid connection to the'respective shells and each having an element for its jointure to the other, the said elements being adapted for interlocking engagement by an initial transverse relative movement and by a subsequent relative out-' ward longitudinal movement during which said sections are alined and the end of'oneof them passes through one of the said open-v ings and means for rigidly securing said end in said opening, said elements when interlockingly engaged having a measure of longitud inal loose play to enable said'shells to expand and contract relatively to one an: other. v

3. A boiler having. a fire-box shell and an outer shell, and a radial staycomprising a .quires for its completionarelative outward elements of the shortest of the radial stays longitudinal movement of said sections in alining relation, the length of said sections being such that when one of them is attached to the shell from which it projects the other, positioned for the inception of said longitudinal movement and alined with the first section, will have its end located free of the shell to which it is subsequently connected, and upon the completion of said longitudinal movement will have said end inserted through said shell.

4. In a boiler having a fire-box shell and an outer shell, a radial stay comprising a pair of sections adapted for connection to the respective shells and having a flexible jointure with one another, said sections for such jointure being provided with companion hooks adapted forrelative longitudinal movement when in engaged relation, the length of said sections being such that when one of them is attached to the shell from which it projects the other with itshook engaged with the book of the first section and being in alinement with the first section, may be moved longitudinally outward relatively thereto from a position wherein its end is free of the shell to which it is subsequently attached to a position wherein said end projects through said shell.

5. In a boiler having a fire-box shell and an outer shell, a radial stay comprising a pair of sections adapted for connection to the respective shells and having a flexible jointure with one another, said sections for such jointure being provided with companion hooks oflset at relatively opposite sides of the respective sections and adapted for articulation by an inward relative transverse I movement and a subsequent relative outward longitudinal movement, the length of said sections being such that when one of them is attached to the shell from which it projects, the other with its hook engaged with the hook of the first section, and being in alinement with the first section, may be moved longitudinally outward relatively thereto from a position wherein its end is free of the shell to which it is subsequently attached to aposition wherein said end projects through said shell.

6. A boiler having a fire-box shell and an outer shell, and a radial stay comprising a pair of rigid sections adapted for rigid connection to the respective shells and having a flexible jointure with one another which requires for its completion a relative outward longitudinal movement of said sections in alining relation, the length of said sections being such that when one of them is attached to the shell from which it projects, the other positioned for the inception 01 said longitudinal movement and alined with the first section, will have its end located free of the shell to which it is subsequently connected, and upon the completion of said longitudinal movement will have said end inserted through said shell, said last-named section having its said end oftapering outline for co-action with an opening therefor in the shell to which it is to be attached to provide a welding clearance between it and said opening.

7. A radial stay for the fire-box shell and outer shell of locomotive boilers comprising a pair of sections adapted to be connected to the respective shells and a flexible joint between the sections comprising hooks carried by said sections and otlset at relatively op-, posite sides thereof whereby the body portions of the sections will be in alinement with one another, each book having an inner and an outer leg, the outer leg of each hook fitting between the legs of the companion hook and the engaging mutually co-facting parts of said hooks being in the line of pull of said sections. I

8. A boiler having an outer shell and a fire-box shell, the, latter having openings for the ends of radial stays, a radial stay having rigid sections for rigid attachment to the respective shells and a flexible joint between said sections requiring for its articulation a relative outward longitudinal movement thereof, the inner end of the section for attachment to the fire-box shell being inserted through an opening therefor in said fire-box shell when said section is moved longitudinally outward relative to the other section and a welded oint between said inserted end and said fire-box shell. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLAN R. HODGES.

itnesses JOHN S. Pownrzs, JOHN L. FLETCHER.

tapes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

